BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP, MI — Each of the seven Buena Vista School District Board of Education members had a 4-inch stack of paper in front of them.

On Tuesday evening, the trustees chose six superintendent candidates to interview on June 13 and 14.

The members met with Teresa A. Bingman, a consultant with the Michigan Association of School Board, for a special meeting to narrow the pool of superintendent candidates from 13 applicants to six for interviews.

6 p.m. Jeffery Palmer, superintendent of Hopewell-Loudon Local School District in Bascom, Ohio

7:15 p.m. David Vander Goot, former Reed City Area Public Schools elementary principal

8:30 p.m. Joann Spry, superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools

Bingman said the candidates are energized for the interviews, which are at the Buena Vista administration building, 705 N. Towerline in Buena Vista Township.

Board members on Tuesday screened the candidates and voted whether to interview
them without releasing their names. Once the board members narrowed the
list, Bingman contacted the candidates to set up interviews.

Prior to Wednesday, the board members will finalize the interview questions.

Attendees can ask questions submitted on paper at the beginning of the meeting, Bingman said. Attendees also can comment on the candidates through written forms, shared with the board members.

During the second round of interviews, the trustees will have the opportunities for more probing questions and leeway in questions, Bingman said.

Randy L. Jackson, board president, said he hopes to make the final decision at the July board meeting and have a superintendent in place by Aug. 1.

Last week, the district held a community input forum for the search, where three attendees said they are looking for a candidate who will bring a fresh set of eyes to the job.